Signal storage circuit for magnetron beam switching tubes



A. SOMLYODY Jan. 4, 1966 SIGNAL STORAGE CIRCUIT FOR MAGNETRON BEAM SWITCHING TUBES Filed Oct. 5. 1961 INVENTOR.

ARPAD SOMLYO DY BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,227,919 SIGNAL STORAGE CIRCUIT FOR MAGNETRON BEAM SWITCHING TUBES Arpad Somlyody, Raritan, N.J., assignor to Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 142,548 5 Claims. (Cl. 315-8.6)

This invention relates to signal receiving and storing apparatus and, particularly, to apparatus of this type using magnetron beam switching tubes as the storage units thereof.

In the computer art and the like, it is often necessary to enter and store electrical signals in a storage device for removal and use at a later time. The present invention is useful in the type of system in which a plurality of storage devices and a plurality of signal sources are available and it is desired to enter a signal from any one of the sources in one or more or all of the storage devices.

Briefly, according to the invention, a magnetron beam switching tube is provided for use as the individual storage devices in the circuit or system. Each beam switching tube operates with crossed electric and magnetic fields and includes a cathode and a plurality of groups of electrodes, each group including a target or output electrode, a spade electrode which forms and holds an electron beam on its target electrode, and a switching electrode for switching an electron beam from one position to the next. A plurality of signal sources are provided equal in number to the number of groups of electrodes in each beam switching tube. Corresponding spade electrodes of each tube are connected together, and each set of spade electrodes thus formed in electrically connected to one of the signal sources.

Means are provided for clearing an electron beam in each tube by altering the electrical potentials therein, and means are also provided for restoring the electrical potentials, whereby an electron beam may be reformed at a position or at a group of electrodes to which one of the selected signal sources is connected. Thus, each time a signal is to be entered in one of the tubes, the signal source is connected to the selected set of spade electrodes, and the selected tube is then cleared and reset, with the beam being reformed at the position to which the signal source is connected. One or more or all of the tubes may be thus energized to receive a signal at one time.

The invention is described in greater detail by reference to the drawing wherein the single figure is a schematic representation of a signal receiving and storing circuit embodying the invention.

The principles of the invention are particularly suited for use with type 6700 magnetron beam switching tubes or with the type of electron tube known as a BEAM-X switch. The latter type of tube is shown in the drawing. For purposes of illustration, three of such tubes are shown although any other number may be employed. Each tube 10 is cylindrical in actual construction but is shown schematically in linear form and includes an evacuated envelope 12 which contains a central cathode 14 and ten groups of electrodes spaced radially equidistantly from, and surrounding, the cathode. For convenience, only three groups of electrodes are shown and are numbered 0, 1, and 2. In the following description of the invention, an electrode may be referred to by the same numeral as that applied to the group of electrodes to which it belongs.

Each group of electrodes in tube 10 includes a spade electrode 16, a target electrode 18, an auxiliary shield electrode 19, and a switching electrode 20. For purposes of simplifying the drawing, the exact shape and position of each electrode is not shown. In each group of elec- ICC trodes, the spade electrode serves to form and hold an electron beam on its associated target electrode which itself receives the greater portion of the electron beam and provides an output signal therefrom. The switching electrode 20, known as a switching grid, is ordinarily used for switching an electron beam from position to position, and the auxiliary electrodes 19 facilitates the switching operation. These last two electrodes are not used for switching an electron beam in the present invention.

The tube 10 also includes suitable means for providing an axial magnetic field which combines with electric fields therein to control the movement of an electron beam. Such means may be an external or internal permanent magnet arrangement (not shown), or some of the electrodes themselves may be permanent magnets.

In the circuit shown in the drawing, each cathode 14 is coupled to a source 24 of generally sawtooth pulses 28 which have a positive-going leading edge and a generally linear, gently negatively sloping trailing edge. Apparatus for generating such pulses is well known and need not be described in detail. A phantastron circuit, for exaxple, is suitable for generating such pulses. The switching electrodes 20 and the auxiliary electrodes 19 of each tube are connected together and to a source of positive DC. potential V.

The target electrodes 18 of each tube are connected to any suitable utilization device. For example, they may be connected directly to separate glow cathodes of a type 6844A indicator tube, or they may be connected to a printing mechanism or the like.

According to the invention, corresponding spade electrodes 16 in each tube are connected together through individual load resistors 36. Thus, for example, the 0 spades are interconnected; the 1 spades are interconnected; etc. In addition, each set of spade electrodes is also connected to a source of signals which may be selected and entered in one or more of the tubes at the position of the spade to which it is connected. In one suitable arrangement, each set of spade electrodes is connected to a two-position switch 38 having one terminal 40 coupled to a source of positive DC. potential Vb, which is normal spade operating potential, and a second terminal coupled to a source of a smaller positive D.C. potential which represents the signal information. Of course, any other suitable arrangement may be employed to couple signal information to the spade electrodes.

In one circuit arrangement, the potential V was about 50 volts, the pulses 28 had an amplitude of about 60 volts, Vb was about 55 volts, and Vs was about 50 volts.

In operation of the invention, assume that each tube 10 has an electron beam flowing to a position therein, and it is desired to enter new information in one or more of the tubes. The switch 38 connected to the selected signal source whose signal is to be entered is switched to terminal 44 whereby a lower potential Vs is made available at a selected spade electrode in each of the tubes. This potential, by itself, is too small to cause an electron beam to switch when it is applied to a spade electrode, as described. However, at the same time, the pulse source 24 coupled to the tube( s) 10 in which the new information is to be entered, is energized, and a pulse 28 is applied to the cathode 14 of the selected tube(s). The leading edge of pulse 28 raises the cathode 14 to a positive potential at which an electron beam cannot be supported, and, if a beam is present, it is cleared. Then the gently sloping trailing edge of pulse 28 slowly lowers the potential of the cathode and re-establishes the normal tube operating potentials. As the normal tube potentials are re established, an electron beam forms at the position to which the energized signal source 38 is connected. Since the tube potentials are re-estabilshed at a slow rate, a relatively low amplitude signal Vs can set the electron beam.

It is clear that one or more of the tubes may be energized in the manner described above to receive and store information from one of the signal sources 40 at any one time. It is also to be understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, any suitable type of source 24 may be used to generate the generally sawtooth waves 28 used for clearing a beam in one of the tubes and then slowly re-establishing normal operating potentials so that another beam may be reformed.

The present invention provides a simple circuit for entering electrical information in one or more of a plurality of electrical storage devices which are connected together.

What is claimed is:

1. A signal receiving and storing circuit including a plurality of magnetron beam switching tubes each having a cathode and a plurality of groups of electrodes;

each group including a target electrode which receives an electron beam and produces an output signal therefrom, a spade electrode which holds an electron beam on its associated target electrode, and a switching electrode which serves to switch an electron beam from one group of electrodes to the next; ach of the electrodes of each tube being adapted to carry characteristic operating potentials when an electron beam is flowing to a group of electrodes;

a plurality of signal sources each coupled to one of the groups of electrodes of each tube;

means coupled to each tube for altering the potential across each tube and thus clearing an electron beam therein; and

means for returning the potential across each tube to normal whereby an electron beam may be formed at one group of electrodes, depending on the presence at said group of electrodes of a signal from the one of said signal sources which is coupled thereto.

2. The circuit defined in claim 1 wherein each signal source is connected to one spade electrode in each tube.

3. The circuit defined in claim 1 wherein each tube includes the same number of groups of electrodes, and the number. of signal sources equals the number of groups of electrodes with each signal source being coupled to one group of electrodes in each tube.

4. The circuit defined in claim 1 wherein each tube includes the same number of groups of electrodes, and spade electrodes in corresponding groups of electrodes are electrically interconnected to provide a plurality of sets of spade electrodes,

and a separate signal source is connected to each set of spade electrodes.

5. A signal receiving and storing circuit including a plurality of magnetron beam switching tubes each having a cathode and a plurality of groups of electrodes;

each group including a target electrode which receives an electron beam and produces an output signal therefrom, a spade electrode which holds an electron beam on its associated target electrode, and a switching electrode which serves to switch an electron beam from one group of electrodes to the next;

each of the electrodes of each tube being adapted to carry characteristic operating potentials when an electron beam is fiowing to a group of electrodes;

a plurality of signal sources each coupled to one of the groups of electrodes of each tube;

a source of generally sawtooth waves coupled to the cathode of each tube for first raising the potential of the cathode and thus clearing an electron beam therein and then returning the cathode to normal operating potential whereby an electron beam may be formed at any group of electrodes, depending on the presence at said group of electrodes of a signal from the one of said signal sources which is coupled thereto, said beam being formed as the cathode returns to its normal operating potential.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,835,808 5/1958 Bethke 315-8.5 X 2,892,959 6/ 1959 Kuchinsky 3 l58.6 2,906,915 9/1959 Wolfe 315-8.6 X

GEORGE N. WESTBY, Primary Examiner.

RALPH G NILSON, Examiner. 

1. A SIGNAL RECEIVING AND STORING CIRCUIT INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF MAGNETRON BEAM SWITCHING TUBES EACH HAVING A CATHODE AND A PLURALITY OF GROUPS OF ELECTRODES; EACH GROUP INCLUDING A TARGET ELECTRODE WHICH RECEIVES AN ELECTRON BEAM AND PRODUCES AN OUTPUT SIGNAL THEREFRON, A SPADE ELECTRODE WHICH HOLDS AN ELECTRON BEAM ON ITS ASSOCIATED TARGET ELECTRODE, AND A SWITCHING ELECTRODE WHICH SERVES TO SWITCH AN ELECTRON BEAM FROM ONE GROUP OF ELECTRODES TO THE NEXT; EACH OF THE ELECTRODES OF EACH TUBE BEING ADAPTED TO CARRY CHARACTERISTIC OPERATING POTENTIALS WHEN AN ELECTRON BEAM IS FLOWING TO A GROUP OF ELECTRODES; A PLURALITY OF SIGNAL SOURCES EACH COUPLED TO ONE OF THE GROUPS OF ELECTRODES OF EACH TUBE; MEANS COUPLED TO EACH TUBE FOR ALTERNATING THE POTENTIAL ACROSS EACH TUBE AND THUS CLEARING AN ELECTRON BEAM THEREIN; AND MEANS FOR RETURNING THE POTENTIAL ACROSS EACH TUBE TO NORMAL WHEREBY AN ELECTRON BEAM MAY BE FORMED AT ONE GROUP OF ELECTRODES, DEPENDING ON THE PRESENCE AT SAID GROUP OF ELECTRODES OF A SIGNAL FROM THE ONE OF SAID SIGNAL SOURCES WHICH IS COUPLED THERETO. 